[Concept]

Understory — literally the layer of vegetation beneath a forest canopy, but also under story: the hidden and often overlooked stories of species, cultures, and ecosystems.

A landscape installation that explores untold ecological narratives through a layered tapestry of plants, materials, and symbolic gestures. Inspired by the intricate motifs of Persian rugs and arazzi, the project arranges arranges wild understory herbs — many of them edible — into a formally composed garden. These patterns echo human attempts to impose order and meaning, yet are intentionally ephemeral.

Over time, dormant roots and wind-borne seeds will disrupt the tapestry’s symmetry, embracing what Persian weavers call the Persian flaw: the beauty of imperfection and the humility of acknowledging nature’s unpredictability.

Surrounding the tapestry: burdock, known for its ability to disperse seeds by clinging to anyone who brushes against it. Anyone who brushes against it becomes an unwitting gardener, a participant in the garden’s continuous transformation. And Amaranth, a plant with deep ties to ancient foraging and ritual nourishment.

Understory becomes a living archive, a place where human gesture meets vegetal intelligence, where cultivation and wildness intertwine. It celebrates the species and stories that grow quietly beneath dominant narratives, offering a space for reflection, renewal, and connection.